Machine for barking railway-ties and the like.



H. L. GALLOWAY. V MACHINE FOR BARKING RAILWAY TIES AND THE LIKE.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 6, 1912.

Patented 00t.14, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

worm.

H. L. GALLOWAY.

MACHINE POE BARKING RAILWAY TIES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1912.

L0?5,7?6 Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HOPE LYLE GALLOWAY, OF KILMALGOLM, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR TO GALLOWAY, WEIR & GIBSON, LTD, 0F GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 14, 1913.

Application filed November 6, 1912. Serial No. 729,724.

to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has reference to a machine I for removing the bark from timbers intended to be employed as ties for railways, and comprises novel features of construction which will be described in the following "specification and more particularly set forth in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a machine accor ing to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the channel through, which the timber is led to the cutters. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the action of the cutters on ties of different dimensions.

The frame a of the machine carries a pair of movable headstocks b, 6, these headstocks being adapted to slide horizontally to and from each other. Each headstock is provided with a toothed rack 0, these racks gearing respectively with toothed quadrants d, (2. Each quadrant is keyed dn a vertical shaft f, and on the same shaft is keyed a bracket g. The brackets carry threaded pins h, the points of the pins bearing against paws is, is which are loosely pivoted on the shafts 1. By means of the threaded pins the paws can be adjusted relatively to the quadrants, and consequently their position with respect to the hcadstocks can be accurately determined. Each headstock contains a bearing m for a vertical spindle n; and each spindle carries on its upper end a revolving cutter 0. Each cutter may consist of one, two or more knives. In the drawings two knives 10, p are shown. A horizontal shaft .9 is supported in bearings t, u at a convenient distance from the spindles n, n. This shaft carries pulleys o, c, which by means of quarter twist belts w, w drive pulleys 1', 7* which are keyed on the spindles n, n. Pedestals w, w, y, y are provided at convenient distances from the spindles n, 92. These pedestals carry bearings 2, 2 and 3, 3 for shafts 4, 5 which support chain wheels 6, 7. Over these chain wheels passes a chain 8, and this chain is provided at suitable distances with dogs 9. The bearings 3, 3 in the pedestals y, y are mounted in slots 11 in the heads of the pedestals, and screws 12 are provided for adjusting'the horizontal position of each bearing 3 so that the chains can be tensioned when desired. On the shaft 4 is keyed a worm wheel 13 which gears with a worm 14 keyed on a shaft'l5 on which is also keyed a bevel pinion 16 which gears with a bevel pinion 17 keyed on a shaft 18 which carries fast and loose pulleys 21, 22. A belt 19 stretches from a pulley 20 on the shaft 8 to the pulleys 21, 22 on the shaft 18 and, by means of this bolt, the chain wheels are driven from the shaft 8. Fast and loose pulleys 23, 24 are provided on the shaft 3. A driving belt can be arranged to stretch to these pulleys from a suitable driving shaft or other source of power.

A channel 25 which may conveniently be constructed of timber extends below the paws k, k and cutters 0, 0, but above the racks c and quadrants 03. Railway ties or other material required to be treated in the machine are placed in this channel and are dragged along the channel by means of the dogs 9, the chain running in a groove 27 in the channel. The timber is carried between the revolving cutters and is cut thereby.

The machine is specially adaptedv for the removal of bark from timber intended to be used as railway ties. In such a case the timbers are placed horizontally and end to end in the channel and, when passin be tween the revolving cutters, the bark 1s removed by these cutters. The knives of the cutters are shaped as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, Fig. 4 showing a knife when dealing with a six inch tie cut from a nine inch tree and Fig. 5 the same knife when acting on an eight inch tie cut from a thirteen inch tree. It will be seen that the curve of the cutting edge of each knife of the cutter is so shaped that, whatever be the depth of the tie, within certain practical limits, the bark can be removed without removing more than a mimimum of the timber.

In order that the center of the knife ma always be in the center plane of the wood, 1t

is necessary to regulate the-height of the cutter according to the depth of the ties. this purpose I provide a pressure member 31 which is flexibly connected to the frame of the machine by means of links 32 and 33. These links with the pressure member constitute a parallel motion whereby the pressure member can rise and fall vertically. The upper link is fulcrumed on a shaft 34, and the lower link on a shaft 35; and on this lower shaft is keyed an arm 36 which is pivoted to a sleeve 37 which envelops the upper end of a threaded. rod 39. The lower end of the rod is pivotally connected to a lever 41 keyed on a shaft 42 which is supported in bearings in the frame of the machine. On the shaft 42 are also keyed levers 43 the ends of which are pivoted at 44 to the lower ends of links 45, the upper ends of which are pivoted at 46 to rings 54 which are located between collars 55 which are fast on the spindles n, a, friction washers 56 being interposed between the rings and the washers. By means of the mechanism which has just been described, it will be obvious that the rise or fall of the pressure member 31 gives a corresponding rising or falling movement to the cutters. The proportions of the levers are, however, .so arranged that the movement of the cutters is exactly half the movement of the pressure member. It therefore follows that the movement of the cutters is exactly half the variation in the heights of the ties, and the center of the cutter, therefore, in all cases is in the center plane of the tie being cut.

' The weight of the pressure member and of the cutters with their shafts tends to keep the pressure member in contact with the top of the ties; but, if desired, an additional weight 57, suspended at the end of the arm 58 keyed on the shaft 35 may be provided.

A paw or projection 49 formed on the lower link 33 assists in guiding the ties below the pressure member. The threaded nut 47 and hand wheel 48 allow of the cutters being adjusted relatively to the pressure member. As the spindles n, a rise and fall, the "pulleys 4" rise with them. These pulleys are therefore made of sufficient height to retain the belts 'w whatever be the positions of the cutters.

In order to reduce friction, the pressure member is provided with rollers 50. Three rollers are shown in the drawings but any greater or less number may be employed as desired.

For

The ties when being dragged along the channel and before reaching the cutters make contact with the paws k, k. Levers 51 keyed on the shafts f, f are provided at their ends with eyes 52 to which are attached ropes or chains 59 which pass over pulleys 53 and carry weights 60 whereby pressure is exerted on the paws k, k to keep these in contact with the timber being fed to the cutters. The distance between the paws 7c, is varies with the width of the ties or the like and as, the paws act on the quadrants d, d, and these act on the racks a, 0, it will be obvious that the horizontal distance between the cutters is regulated according to the width of the ties. The machine is so adjusted that the bark can all be removed from the ties without removing more than a minimum quantity of hard wood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A machine comprising, in combination,

each other and adapted to rotate in opposite directions about vertical axes, means for conveying timber to be treated between said. cutters, a top pressure member adapted to.

make contact with the top of said timber and to rise and fall with variations in the depth thereof, and mechanism connecting said top pressuremember with said cutters and adapted to raise said cutters half the distance that the said top pressure member uses.

2. A machine comprising, in combination,

aframe, a pair of cutters located opposite to each other and adapted to rotate in opposite directions about vertical axes, meansfor conveying timber to be treated between said cutters, a top pressure member adapted'to make contact with the top of said timber and to rise and fallwith variations in the depth thereof, and mechanism connecting said top pressure member with said cutters and adapted to raise said cutters half the distance that the said top pressure member rises, the said cutters being provided with knives having concave cutting edges.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in'the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOPE LYLE GALLOWAY. 

